Abstract
BackgroundSubjectively perceived memory problems (memory-related Subjective Cognitive Symptoms/SCS) can be an indicator of a pre-prodromal or prodromal stage of a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. We therefore sought to provide detailed empirical information on memory-related SCS in the dementia-free adult population including information on prevalence rates, associated factors and others.MethodsWe studied 8834 participants (40–79 years) of the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study. Weighted prevalence rates with confidence intervals (95%-CI) were calculated. Associations of memory-related SCS with participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, physical and mental comorbidity, and cognitive performance (Verbal Fluency Test Animals, Trail-Making-Test, CERAD Wordlist tests) were analyzed.ResultsPrevalence of total memory-related SCS was 53.0% (95%-CI = 51.9–54.0): 26.0% (95%-CI = 25.1–27.0) of the population had a subtype without related concerns, 23.6% (95%-CI = 22.7–24.5) a subtype with some related concerns, and 3.3% (95%-CI = 2.9–3.7) a subtype with strong related concerns. Report of memory-related SCS was unrelated to participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, physical comorbidity (except history of stroke), depressive symptomatology, and anxiety. Adults with and without memory-related SCS showed no significant difference in cognitive performance. About one fifth (18.1%) of the participants with memory-related SCS stated that they did consult/want to consult a physician because of their experienced memory problems.ConclusionsMemory-related SCS are very common and unspecific in the non-demented adult population aged 40–79 years. Nonetheless, a substantial proportion of this population has concerns related to experienced memory problems and/or seeks help. Already available information on additional features associated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia in people with SCS may help clinicians to decide who should be monitored more closely.
Highlights
Perceived memory problems can be an indicator of a pre-prodromal or prodromal stage of a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease
If objective cognitive deficits are observed, it should be investigated whether the patient may suffer from a milder cognitive syndrome like the well-established Mild Cognitive Impairment concept (MCI [3, 4]) or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD) according to criteria of the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; [5]) or even from a more severe cognitive syndrome like Major NCD according to Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM)-5 criteria
We found no significant difference in the weighted prevalence rates of memory-related Subjective Cognitive Symptoms (SCS) subtypes between adults with the disease and adults without, with one exception: adults with a history of stroke had a lower prevalence of memory-related SCS without concerns than adults without a stroke (16.3%/ 95%-Confidence interval (CI) = 10.7–21.9 vs. 26.5%/95% confidence intervals (95%-CI) = 25.5–27.5) but higher prevalence rates of memory-related SCS with some concerns (29.5%/95%-CI = 22.6–36.5 vs. 23.8%/ 95%-CI = 22.8–24.7) and strong concerns (5.4%/ 95%-CI = 2.0–8.9 vs. 3.3%/95%-CI = 2.9–3.6)
Summary
Perceived memory problems (memory-related Subjective Cognitive Symptoms/SCS) can be an indicator of a pre-prodromal or prodromal stage of a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. We sought to provide detailed empirical information on memory-related SCS in the dementia-free adult population including information on prevalence rates, associated factors and others. From a clinical point of view, a first step for early detection of a neurodegenerative process in primary care usually is to talk to the patient and ask whether he/she subjectively perceives problems in his/her cognitive function. It is necessary to ask for potentially memory-related concerns/worries as they have been found to be associated with an increased risk of progression to dementia [1]. The diagnostic criteria of all these syndromes require the presence of subjectively perceived cognitive problems, amongst others
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